A sacred island in one side trip, and swim time on the other. This private 8-hour speedboat route from Ornos pairs Delos sightseeing with snorkeling gear and an open bar day on the water.

What I love is how much time you actually get in the sea, not just on a dock. Rhenia’s beaches are the kind of stop you can keep coming back for, and the captain’s on-board info adds context without turning the day into a lecture.

One thing to plan for: the Delos archaeological entrance fee isn’t included, and pickup really depends on whether your hotel has a dock the boat can reach.

Key things to know before you book

• Private cruise for your group (up to 9 people), not a shared boat schedule.
• Open bar included: beer, wine, and soft drinks, plus snacks, bottled water, and fresh fruit.
• Snorkeling equipment is provided so you can swim and explore without renting gear.
• Rhenia stop lasts about 3 hours, with standout swimming time near Skinos (Blue Lacuna).
• Three south-coast Mykonos beach windows (Psarou, Elia, Kalo Livadi) give you a taste of the famous shoreline from the water.
• Return sail is set up for sunset vibes, which is often the best part of a Mykonos cruise day.

A Private Speedboat Day: How the Delos–Rhenia Route Feels

This is built for people who want Mykonos to feel like a film: bright water, fast travel, and the big sights without dragging yourself around on foot. The format is simple: speed over to Delos, shift gears to long swim time on Rhenia, then hop along the south coast before heading back to Ornos.

Because it’s private for up to 9, you’re not waiting on other groups to show up or watching your day get shortened by someone else’s pace. You’re also more flexible about how you use each stop—quick look mode on Delos, linger mode for swimming, and relaxed hanging out on deck when you’re just riding the views.

Ornos Dock at 10:00: Meeting, Timing, and What You’ll Plan Around

You start from the Ornos dock at 10:00 am and you end back at the same meeting point. That round-trip setup matters: it’s one less moving piece while you’re on Mykonos, especially if you’re switching between a cruise day and dinner plans later.

Pickup is listed as offered, but the reality here is more practical: you may be picked from your hotel’s dock if applicable, and standard hotel pickup/drop-off isn’t listed as included. If you’re staying somewhere without dock access, plan on meeting at Ornos dock.

The day runs about 8 hours. That’s long enough to feel like a true outing, but short enough that you don’t lose the whole day to transit. Still, bring sun protection and a plan for what you’ll do between stops—your best moments usually come right after you’re dropped near water (especially once Rhenia starts).

Stop 1, Delos for 20 Minutes: The Sacred Isle Without the Full Museum Day

Delos is the kind of place where even a short visit feels meaningful. The boat drops you near the port on Delos, where you can see ancient monuments from the water and get a quick sense of why it’s been important for centuries. Mythology ties the island to Apollo and Artemis, and the story goes through Poseidon, Leto, and Hera—so even if you don’t go deep on details, you get the big idea fast.

Here’s the practical part: the Delos archaeological entrance fee is not included (it’s listed as €12 per adult). The tour includes admission ticket free time, but only for the general ride/experience; if you want to actually enter and explore the archaeological site more extensively, you should budget for the ticket.

You only get about 20 minutes at this stop, so don’t plan on a full walk-through. Think of Delos here as a dramatic “first look.” If you care a lot about understanding what you’re seeing, this is one place where adding a guide in the archaeological area can change the experience—but you’d need to do that separately from what’s included.

What to do with your time:

• Prioritize the viewpoints and monument clusters you can access quickly.
• If you’re the type who likes photos, use Delos for angles and scale—you’ll feel the island’s significance even from quick stops.
• If you want more history, this is the moment when your on-board captain’s commentary can help you connect the dots before you head back to the boat.

Rhenia (Rineia) for About 3 Hours: Skinos, Blue Lacuna, and Easy Swim Time

Rhenia is where the cruise becomes a beach day. After Delos, you head to the nearby island, and the schedule gives you about 3 hours—enough time to swim, snorkel, and still have time to relax.

There’s also a layer of history behind the calm. In antiquity, Delos was regulated in a way that led to Rhenia becoming a large necropolis, and the island also functioned as a sanatorium for people who couldn’t remain on Delos. Today, you’re not going for the grim story—you’re going for the water.

The water is described as crystal blue and clear, and the stop is strongly associated with Skinos, also known as Blue Lacuna. That name isn’t just marketing. The important part for your day is the swimming vibe: you can spend real time in the water, and the cruise provides snorkeling equipment.

This is also one of the best places on the route to bring your “no schedule” attitude. You’re not rushing to a club; you’re not running between viewpoints. You’re floating, breathing, and enjoying the light on the water.

Practical tips for Rhenia:

• Use snorkeling gear early, while you’re fresh—after a few hours, you might prefer just relaxing in the shallows.
• Bring something easy to rinse off (at minimum, a small towel), because sea day grit adds up.
• If you’re sensitive to sun, treat deck time like a resource. Shade may be limited once you’re anchored, so plan where you’ll land before you’re burning.

South-Coast Beach Stops (Psarou, Elia, Kalo Livadi): What One Hour Can Do

After Rhenia, the itinerary shifts to the south coastline of Mykonos. You’ll spend about 1 hour each at Psarou beach, Elia Beach, and Kalo Livadi Beach. Taken together, this is a fast, curated sampler of the Mykonos shoreline that people come for in the first place.

Here’s the trade-off: one hour is enough for photos, a swim, and a quick lunch plan if you’re heading to shore. It’s not enough for a long beach day where you really settle in. So your best strategy is to decide what your group wants from each stop—swim, people-watch, or hop to a beach bar/restaurant.

The route includes the idea that you can access famous spots with “sea-entry” by private docks. That matters because it makes these stops feel more connected to the beach-club world than a typical public shoreline visit. If your group wants to try beach restaurants or cocktails, this sea access can save time compared to scrambling from a tender or a farther landing point.

If your group isn’t there for the clubs, you can still enjoy these stops without stepping on land much. The boat view is part of the point: you get coastline angles, beach shapes, and the kind of sunlight that’s hard to recreate from shore.

A simple plan that works well:

• Use Psarou for a quick taste of the famous energy.
• Use Elia for space and a more laid-back break (at least in the way people usually treat it).
• Use Kalo Livadi for a “last swim and reset” before the return sail.

The Open Bar, Snacks, and On-Board Comfort That Matter

This is an easy day if you like your food and drinks taken care of. Included in the cruise are unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks, plus snacks, bottled water, and fresh fruits. There’s also fuel surcharge and a captain, so you’re not hit with add-ons mid-day for basic needs.

The vibe is that you’re supposed to stay on the boat, then drop in and out of the water at the stops where the captain drops you close to shore. That works especially well on Rhenia, where you’re likely to snorkel or swim repeatedly over the full chunk of time.

One balanced note: the phrase open bar can create different expectations. The operator’s response to a past issue clarifies that open bar doesn’t mean unlimited drinking without safety limits while you’re on a boat. In practice, you should expect generous service, but if you’re picky about drink types or you have strong preferences (for example, wanting specific spirits beyond beer/wine/soft drinks), don’t wait until you’re thirsty—say what you want early.

Also, pay attention to snack expectations. One reported hiccup involved snacks not being exactly what was expected, and the operator offered compensation. That doesn’t mean it will happen to you, but it’s a good reminder: if anything feels off, flag it right away so it can be fixed while you’re still on the water.

Safety and Pace: Why This Schedule Works Better Than It Looks

Some boat days look busy on paper. This one works because it mixes short “sightline time” with long “water time.” Delos is brief, but that’s intentional—since entrance fees aren’t included and your time is limited, the goal is to show you the island quickly from the right angles.

Rhenia is the core of the day. With roughly 3 hours, you get multiple opportunities to get in the water without rushing. The snorkeling gear changes how you use that time because you’re not just swimming surface-level; you can spend a long stretch looking around.

Then the south-coast stops are spaced so you get variety instead of repetition. Three one-hour beach stops keep energy high and prevent the classic cruise problem where everyone is tired halfway through the day. By the time you’re wrapping up, you’re ready for that return sail feeling—often the moment that makes Mykonos cruise days special.

Value Check: Is $1,982.41 for Up to 9 People Worth It?

The price is $1,982.41 per group up to 9 people for about 8 hours. On a solo traveler basis that sounds steep, but you should think about it as a shared private boat cost.

If you fill the boat with 9, the cost works out closer to a couple hundred per person. If you go with a smaller group, you’ll pay more per person, but you’re still buying something meaningful: privacy, a dedicated captain for your day, and a route that hits Delos plus the kind of swim time most people only dream about.

What you’re getting for that money:

• Private speedboat rather than a shared cruise
• Snorkeling equipment
• Open bar (beer, wine, soft drinks) plus snacks, bottled water, and fresh fruit
• A timetable designed for stops where time in the water counts

What can add cost or change the budget:

• €12 per adult for Delos archaeological entrance if you want more than quick sights
• Pickup/drop-off isn’t guaranteed as standard hotel service (dock pickup may be possible)
• If your group expects a big beach-club meal plan on shore, that’s separate from what’s included

So the value angle is clear. This cruise is for groups who want a private day on the water with real swimming time and food/drinks handled. If you’re the type who enjoys structured tours with long time on land, you might feel the Delos stop is too short.

Who This Cruise Fits Best (and Who Might Want Another Option)

This tour fits best if you fall into one of these buckets:

• You want Mykonos from the water, not just from beach chairs.
• You’re traveling with friends or a small group (up to 9) and want privacy.
• You care about a quick “Delos hit” plus long swim time on Rhenia.
• You want snorkeling gear included without renting equipment.

It’s not ideal if your priority is hours of walking museums or slow cultural exploration. The Delos portion is built to be a taste, not a deep site visit.

Also note the kid guidance: children must be accompanied by an adult, and it’s not recommended for child aged 3 and under. If you’re bringing young kids, you’ll want to think about how they handle boat time and sun exposure.

Should You Book the Delos, Rhenia and Mykonos Speedboat Cruise?

I’d book this if you’re planning a Mykonos trip where one day is clearly the “sea day.” The combination is strong: Delos for sacred island drama, Rhenia for swimming and snorkeling, and then the south-coast beaches for that Mykonos coastline story you want to tell later.

Before you confirm, do two practical checks:

• Budget for the Delos entrance fee if you want to enter the archaeological site rather than just view monuments from the harbor area.
• Ask whether dock pickup is possible for your hotel, since hotel pickup/drop-off isn’t listed as included.

If you want a private day that keeps everyone happy—water time for the swimmers, viewpoints for the photographers, and drinks/snacks to make the day feel effortless—this is the kind of cruise that can earn its high marks.

FAQ

Is the Delos archaeological site entrance fee included?

No. The entrance fee for the archaeological site of Delos is listed as excluded and is €12 per adult.

How long is the cruise?

The duration is approximately 8 hours.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Ornos dock and ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the tour begin?

The start time is 10:00 am.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not listed as included. Pickup may be possible from your hotel’s dock if applicable, so it’s worth confirming for your exact location.

What’s included for food and drinks?

The cruise includes snacks, bottled water, fresh fruits, and unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks on board.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included.

Which stops are included during the day?

The cruise includes stops at Delos, Rhenia (Skinos/Blue Lacuna), and south-coast Mykonos beaches including Psarou, Elia, and Kalo Livadi.

Is this tour private?

Yes. It’s listed as a private tour/activity, and only your group participates, up to 9 people.

What’s the child policy?

Children must be accompanied by an adult, and it’s not recommended for child aged 3 and under. Service animals are allowed.